Bourne shoe shop is named ladies indenpedent shoe shop of the year

Family footwear firm North Shoes has scooped its ninth industry ‘Oscar’ in just eight years.

The shoe retailer, with a store in North Street, Bourne, was named ladies' independent footwear retailer of the year at the 2019 Footwear Industry Awards, held at Birmingham’s National Conference Centre.

Delighted managing director James North – the fifth generation of the family at the head of the company, which was launched in Bourne in 1876 – confessed: “I didn’t think we’d win anything this year!”

The awards salute excellence and innovation in the footwear industry and James added: “It’s so good to win the ladies independent retailer award. We won it in 2013 and it means such a lot to be voted the best by your industry peers and suppliers.

“I didn’t think we’d win because we’ve had so much success in the eight years of the awards and I didn’t think it possible we’d do it again – but I’m delighted that our passion for a good fitting service and customer care has been recognised.

“We’ll continue to do what we do best during 2019. We opened our fifth store last year in Lincoln, while many other independents are closing shops – who knows, we might make it ten awards in 2020!”